Elsewhere, promotion hopes copped a blow for a few Aussies in the Championship, while Robbie Kruse and his Fortuna Dusseldorf side failed to ease their relegation fears.

In the English Premier League, Curtis Good made his first match-day appearance for Newcastle in their 4-0 loss to Manchester City. Good was an unused substitute in the clash as Newcastle failed to ease their relegation worries.

Brad Jones was an unused substitute as Liverpool came from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1. Chris Herd missed the game with a foot injury, while Brett Holman was absent with a hamstring problem.

Elsewhere, Adam Federici was absent with an ankle injury as Reading remained bottom with a 4-1 loss to Arsenal.

In the Championship, Mile Jedinak played 90 minutes in midfield as Crystal Palace’s automatic promotion hopes suffered a blow following a 4-0 home thrashing by Birmingham City.

Neil Kilkenny played a full game in midfield as Bristol City remained bottom following a 3-0 loss to Derby County. Kilkenny barely had any impact on the game as Bristol created precious little throughout the contest and are now 6 points from safety.

Shane Lowry played a full game in the centre of defence as Millwall scored a late winner to defeat promotion chasing Leicester City 1-0. Lowry, who scored a stunning free-kick in Millwall’s last outing, nearly repeated the heroics early in the contest, only for Leicester ‘keeper Kasper Schmeichel to pull off a stunning diving save from the big Aussie’s set-piece. Lowry then showed his defensive prowess with a desperate goal-line clearance from Dave Nugent’s shot.

Scott McDonald played a full game as Middlesbrough’s horrific form continued, losing 3-2 to relegation-threatened Wolverhampton. McDonald, who played in an attacking midfield role, had little impact on the game, as Boro made it 11 losses in their past 14 games and are now 6 points away from the promotion places. Rhys Williams was absent from the Boro match-day squad.

Elsewhere, Seb Usai was absent from the match-day squad as Blackburn Rovers drew 1-1 with Blackpool, while Patrick Kisnorbo was an unused substitute as Ipswich beat Leeds 3-0.

In League One, Bradden Inman scored his 4th goal of the season as Crewe Alexandra drew 2-2 with Bury. Inman, returning to the side from injury, came off the bench in the 74th minutes and scored 10 minutes later with a classy strike from the edge of the box after receiving Chuks Aneke’s pass.

Massimo Luongo made his debut for Swindon Town, playing a full game as Swindon drew 1-1 with struggling Oldham Athletic. Luongo, who joined Swindon on loan from Tottenham Hotspur on Friday, put in a good shift in midfield and nearly found the back of the net in the first half, but he pushed his shot just wide of the post. Dean Bouzanis played a full game in goal for Oldham and made a fine save deep in the contest to earn a point for his side. James Wesolowski played 90 minutes in midfield, while Alex Cisak was an unused substitute.

Elsewhere, Bailey Wright played a full game in defence as Preston North End drew 1-1 with lowly Portsmouth.

In League Two, James Meredith played a full game for Bradford City in their 2-2 draw with Southend United. Meredith provided the assist for Bradford’s first goal on 53 minutes, with the left-back’s cross finding Zavon Hines who stroked the ball home.

Shane Cansdell-Sherriff played a full game as Rochdale drew 1-1 with Jamie Young’s Aldershot Town. Young had a nervy shift and nearly conceded a calamitous goal in the first half, with his clearance ricocheting off Ian Henderson and bouncing just inches past his unguarded goal.

Elsewhere, Aaron Downes was an unused substitute as Torquay United lost 1-0 to Northampton Town.

In the Scottish Premier League, Tom Rogic was left on the bench as Celtic conceded late to draw 1-1 with St Mirren.

Elsewhere, Dylan McGowan started and played 59 minutes as struggling Hearts lost 2-0 to Aberdeen. Elsewhere, Alex Baird was an unused substitute as Dundee FC lost 3-0 to Motherwell.

In the Scottish Second Division, Marc Warren was absent from the match-day squad as Airdrie United lost 1-0 to Falkirk.

In Ireland, Mark Griffin scored his second goal of the season as Derry City thumped Shelbourne 4-0. Griffin, who came off the bench in the 73rd minute, scored from the penalty spot in second half stoppage time.

In the German Bundesliga, Robbie Kruse played 90 minutes as Fortuna Dusseldorf put in a disappointing performance, losing 4-1 at home to Bayer Leverkusen. Kruse, who earlier missed the target from a promising position, was involved in his side’s only goal just before half-time, receiving the ball on the left side of the penalty box and driving a low cross to the back post, only for Leverkusen defender Daniel Schwaab to intercept and divert the ball past his own ‘keeper.

Elsewhere, Mitch Langerak was an unused substitute as Borussia Dortmund delayed Bayern Munich lifting the trophy for another week with a 2-1 win over Stuttgart, while Nikita Rukavytsya was absent with injury as FSV Mainz drew 1-1 with Werder Bremen.

In the German Second Division, Mathew Leckie was a 70th minute substitute as FSV Frankfurt beat Union Berlin 3-0.

In the German Third Division, Mustafa Amini started and played 85 minutes as Borussia Dortmund II drew 0-0 with Preuben Munster.

In the Dutch Eredivisie, Tommy Oar was a 55th minute substitute as FC Utrecht beat VVV Venlo 2-1. Michael Zullo returned from injury but could only watch on from the bench, while Adam Sarota was missing with his long term knee injury. Travis Cooper was absent from the VVV Venlo match-day squad.

Elsewhere, Jason Davidson was an unused substitute as Heracles lost 2-1 to AZ Alkmaar.

In the Italian Serie A, James Troisi was absent from the match-day squad as Atalanta drew 0-0 with Sampdoria.

In the Serie B, Carl Valeri remained out with injury as Sassuolo drew 1-1 with second placed Hellas Verona. Sassuolo are 9 points clear at the top of the table with 8 games to play.

In Portugal, Caleb Patterson-Sewell was an unused substitute as Vitoria Setubal lost 4-2 to Maritimo.

In Austria, James Holland played a full game in midfield as Austria Wien drew 1-1 with 2nd placed Red Bull Salzburg. Wien remain 13 points ahead of Salzburg but would be disappointed not to have furthered the gap after Salzburg were reduced to 10 men before half-time.

In Russia, Luke Wilkshire was an unused substitute as Dinamo Moscow beat FK Rostov 1-0.

In Denmark, Brent McGrath was an unused substitute as Brondby lost 1-0 to Esbjerg, a result which leaves them in the relegation zone, 3 points from safety.

In Turkey, Kerem Bulut was an 82nd minute substitute as Akhisar Belediyespor remained in the relegation zone following a 2-0 loss to Fenerbahce. Elsewhere, Aziz Behich was absent from the match-day squad as Bursapor lost 2-0 to Kasimpasa.

In the American MLS, Tim Cahill started but was replaced after 58 minutes as the New York Red Bulls beat Philadelphia Union 2-1. Cahill had a couple of half-chances to score, including a trademark header from a corner, but was unable to find the back of the net.

Elsewhere, Andy Rose was an 80th minute substitute as Seattle Sounders lost 2-1 to Real Salt Lake.

In the J-League, Josh Kennedy was absent as Nagoya Grampus beat Shonan Bellmare 2-0. Kennedy, who is still recovering from a back injury, has resumed training.

In Korea, Alex Wilkinson played a full game in defence as Jeonbuk Motors lost 2-1 to Suwon Bluewings. Eddy Bosnar was missing from the Suwon match-day squad.

Adrian Madaschi was an 85th minute substitute as Jeju United beat Busan I’Park 1-0, while Robert Cornthwaite & Matt Simon were both missing from the Chunnam Dragons that lost 2-1 to Pohang Steelers.

Elsewhere, Luke Devere remained out with a knee injury as Gyeongnam drew 2-2 with FC Seoul, while Brendan Hamill was absent from the match-day squad as Seongnam drew 0-0 with Daegu.

Nathan Burns was again missing for Incheon United in their 2-1 loss to Daejeon Citizen.

In the Chinese Super League, Ryan McGowan played a key role in defence as Shandong Luneng continued their strong start to the season with a 2-0 win Guangzhou R&F. McGowan was solid in defence and has been integral in Shandong not conceding a goal in the opening 3 games.

Michael Marrone played a full game as Shanghai Shenxin drew 2-2 with Jiangsu Sainty, while Jonas Salley played a full game in midfield as Guizhou Renhe beat Wuhan Zall 2-1.

Elsewhere, Erik Paartalu played 90 minutes in midfield as Tianjin Teda drew 2-2 with Hangzhou, while Matt McKay was an unused substitute in Changchun Yatai’s 1-0 loss to Qingdao Jonoon.

In the Chinese Second Division, Ryan Griffiths found the back of the net for Beijing Baxy in their 2-1 win over Chongqing.

In the UAE Pro-League, Alex Brosque scored as runaway league leaders Al Ain beat Al Shabab 2-1. Brosque scored the equaliser from the penalty spot on 78 minutes, before Yousef Ahmad scored the winner minutes later.

Nick Carle was an unused substitute as Baniyas lost 2-1 to Al Nasr. Carle, a mainstay in the Baniyas side earlier in the season, appears to have fallen out of favour, with 2 just appearances in the past 10 games.

Dino Djulbic played a full game in defence as Al Wahda beat Dubba Al Fujairah 1-0, while Richard Porta started but was substituted after 27 minutes through injury as Dubai lost 2-1 to Ajman.

In the Qatar Stars League, Sasa Ognenovski played a full game in defence as Umm Salal beat Qatar SC 3-1, while Matt Spiranovic started but was replaced at half time as Al Arabi were thumped 4-1 by Lekhwiya.

In Iran, Milan Susak played a full game as Sepahan progressed through to the Hazfi Cup Final following a penalty shootout win over Esteghlal. Susak scored the winning penalty as Sepahan won the shootout 5-4.

In the Indian I-League, Tolgay Ozbey found the back of the net in Mohun Bagan’s 2-2 draw with Shillong Lajong.